Was built in 1946 as a wooden auxiliary cargo vessel by Espoir Sablais, Les Sables d’Olonne, France.
Launched under the name RAMUNTCHO.
Tonnage: 114 grt, 64 net. Dim ? x 23.1 x ?
Powered by a 4cyl oil engine, manufactured by Cie de Constr. Méc, St Dennes, France.
.
She was fitted out by Noirmoutier as a lobster fishing vessel.
She sailed under command of Capt. Jean Bonnin with a crew of 15 men for Saint Paul Islands for the season of September 1951 till February 1952.
The catch is sold at Réunion, with some difficulty, and it looks the fishing was financially not a success.
End of that year sold at Saint-Pierre, Réunion.
1955 Was she registered in La Rochelle, and owned by Grande Mouling de Bordeaux
Thereafter used for a dozen voyages with supplies and general cargo between Malgasy and Saint-Pierre.
http://amis.univ-reunion.fr/Conference/presentation/54/ has some more information on the fate of the ship; it was translated by Mr. Araignon.
During World War II there was an English blockade around Réunion, and after the war there was a real threat of famine on the island.
Some merchants of the south of Ile de la Réunion succeeded to convince the Malagasy (Madagascar) suppliers to charter the ship RAMUNTCHO to transport supplies from Madagascar to Réunion.
She is there given, as a coaster of 110 tons and owned by Grands Moulins de Bordeaux, so it looks she was owned by him from new building.
She made a dozen voyages between Madagascar and Saint Pierre.
1952 By entering the port she grounded, and water was flowing in.
After a lengthy stay in port (Saint Pierre), it was broken up there.
French Southern and Antarctic Territories 2001 0.81 Euro sg?, scott?
Source: http:// http://www.chez.com/philateliemarine/ph ... rctic3.htm Lloyds Register 1955/56: